This is the author's blog for the print, film, and digital versions of Ordinary Heroes: Six Stars in the Window.
Ordinary Heroes: Six Stars in the Window is the true story of one family, six brothers, and a world at war.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

I've been spending a lot of time contacting Web sites and organizations about Ordinary Heroes: Six Stars in the Window. As part of that process, I've had to try to summarize what it is that makes this book special and why anyone should read it.

There clearly is no shortage of books about World War II.

Many of them are historical books, full of strategy and tactics and facts. They are a great resource for those with an interest in military history, but not particularly interesting or readable for anybody else.

Others are first-person narratives, covering one individual soldier's experiences during the war. These books often make for compelling reading, but generally lack context. They don't help the reader understand why the war was being fought, why particular engagements were important, or why individual units were assigned particular tasks.

Ordinary Heroes is different in that it weaves the story of the six Koski brothers into a compelling glimpse of a world at war. It is one of the few books that details the experiences of individual soldiers against the backdrop of the larger war. This larger context gives meaning to the experiences and sacrifices of ordinary soldiers such as the Koski brothers and the men they served with.

In one sense, I think of it as similar to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The trials and tribulations of a few hobbits wouldn't have meaning if it wasn't placed against the backdrop of larger events.

In the same way, the sacrifices of individual soldiers only make sense against the backdrop of the larger war, when we begin to understand the scope of the effort and the magnitude of the stakes.

This context, this overlaying of individual stories over larger events, is one of the main reasons why I believe the story of the Koski brothers is worth reading.

It's one of the main reasons why I felt it was worth writing.

Perhaps some of you who have read the book will share your thoughts on this.

2. The BookOnCD runs on most current computers, including Apple Macs and Windows.Unless your computer is very old or runs Linux, the BookOnCD will almost certainly run on it. The way to tell for sure is to insert the CD and give it a try.

3. The BookOnCD does not need installation--just insert the CD to start.On most Windows computers it will run automatically. On the Mac, just double-click MacBookOnCD to start the program. The BookOnCD doesn't put support files on your computer or make Registry entries so it won't change or harm your computer. (The technology was developed for use in college computer labs, which means it must run without installing files.)

4. When started, the BookOnCD will display a message indicating that it is running in demonstration mode. Just click OK to continue. You'll be able to run the program, but will be limited to the first eight chapters of the book until/unless you complete the online purchase and activation process.

5. If you enjoy the first eight chapters of the BookOnCD and want to access the complete content, just click Help, Pay for this Product and follow the prompts to complete the online payment process using your credit card or PayPal account. It's quick, easy, and secure.After completing the payment process you'll receive a confirmation e-mail direct from PayPal. After receiving that e-mail, click Help, Activate this product and copy/paste or type the info into the activation window to activate the product. After the data is verified, the product will be unlocked for full use on your computer.

6. You only need to complete the payment and activation process one time. After activation the product will remain activated for future use.

7. If you switch to a new computer, you don't need to repeat the payment process. Just run the product on the new computer and click Help, Activate this product. Then copy/paste or type the data from the confirmation e-mail to activate on the new computer.

8. If you have any questions or run into any problems, let us know and we'll take care of it.The BookOnCD technology is being successfully used by hundreds of thousands of college students, all around the world, so in the unlikely event that you run into a problem we probably already have a solution for it.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Welcome to the Ordinary Heroes: Six Stars in the Window author's blog.

I'm hoping this blog will serve as a two-way communication channel between me, as the author of Ordinary Heroes: Six Stars in the Window, and those people who have read the book, watched the documentary film, or used one of the digital versions of the book.

This is your chance to ask questions and post your comments about the book, documentary film, or digital books.